Not too very long ago, I had my racquets strung pretty darned tight. I carry 4 to 6 racquets on any given day. When I got back into tennis a few years ago, I would carry 6 religiously. 2 at 60, 2 at 65 and 2 at 70 (yes, 70). I would use the different tensions depending on my opponent, the speed of the court, and the weather. Having 2 at each tension insured that I always had a backup to whatever I was using.

I don't break that many strings, but I would always have the ones of the same tension restrung at the same time, and the cost started adding up.

When I got an unexpected bonus earlier this year, I decided to incest in a stringing machine. I researched and pondered for quite a while on what was the best machine for me with the funds I had. I wound up getting a Gamma 5003 two point machine.

Since I started stringing in May, I have learned a great deal from this forum, from some YouTube videos, and from my coach.

I started coming down on my tension and found that many of my shots were much more consistent around 52 to 50. A pretty fair distance from the 70 and 65 that I had been playing.

Erlier in the year, I got some Dunlop Biomimetic 100's from TW Europe. I absolutely loved them. I had them strung from the store, 3 at 52 and 3 at 50.

All was fine with the world until I went to Indian Wells this spring. While playing on the courts at the hotel, I actually broke a string. The next day, we trucked into the TW tent at the tournament. I had a nice talk with the stringer, purchased some syn-gut strings and had him string the racquet at 48. I like that even better than the 50's and 52's.

When I got my stringing machine, I practiced on a few of my old Aerogel 500's, then set about restringing my Biomimetic 100's at 48, 46 and 44. The next round, I went a little lower ... 45, 44 and 42.

People started commenting on the amount of power I had, and how much my serve had improved, and I could see very little on my video tapes of matches that was different, so I concluded it was the lower string tension.

A week ago, I broke a string and decided to to experiment. I did something drastic ... I strung it at 38 (co-poly mains and syn-gut crosses). I played one match with it and totally smoked a guy who had always beat me the few times we played.

So today, I tried another experiment. I took another Bio 100 and cut the strings out. I restrung with all syn-gut at 36 and headed out for my doubles match. It may be partly mental, but I was a different player. I was able to get huge amounts of topspin on my ground strokes, and some of the shots I made at net actually surprised the crap out of me. Nice, crisp volleys with lots of pop, and some insane angles. I also had a slew of aces and service winners. Granted, it did take a little getting used to. I hit quite few long until I backed down on the throttle a little.

A friend of mine pointed out that I was now playing with a string tension that is about half what I was using only a year ago. That blew my mind!

How my world has changed!

I also seem to be able to string a lot faster at the lower tension. Is that normal, or am I just getting used to my machine?

Thanx guys, it is funny now that I see it. Must have been tired. Or maybe it was a Freudian slip. :shock:

The machine has not yet paid for itself, but it is well on its way. Plus, I like the fact that I can experiment whenever I want.

I have gotten much better since I started a few months ago. It used to take me an hour to do one racquet. Now I can do the mains in under 15 minutes, and the crosses take about 25. I could probably do better speed wise, but I always double check my crosses to avoid having to pull them out and start over because of one mistake.

I have been using two pieces on all of my racquets, even when they are the same. It just seems a little easier to me. I have heard that a one piece has less tension loss over time. Is there that big of a difference? I have not seen any tension loss on my two piece jobs with the same type string. I always double tie every knot.

I could probably do better speed wise, but I always double check my crosses to avoid having to pull them out and start over because of one mistake.

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As far as cross string weaving goes, if you start the weaving under the first main you will then be going over the last main, and the reverse is true as well, so if you start the same way each time, (I start typically going under the first main, as it is easier for me to go over the last main as it is a straight shot into the grommet that way, and saves me a little more time) . That way if you end the same way each time there will not be a mis weave unless there is an unlikely 2 mis weaves in one row.
Now you can string and not bother to check for a mis weave.

I found that to be the best way. As you said, it is much easier to hit the grommet when the last weave is over the main. I guess I am still just a little self conscious and don't want to make a mistake and have to do the crosses over again.

I have heard that a one piece has less tension loss over time. Is there that big of a difference? I have not seen any tension loss on my two piece jobs with the same type string. I always double tie every knot.

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Uh.... I thought lower tension or tension loss was the point.... Just kidding but you've got to see the irony of such a statement.

As far as loss goes, it would be a percentage of the overall tension which would be much lower due to the initial low tensions. I've tried as low as 30 but I'll have to give it a go again. I still prefer 58-60 lbs but it is cold here and I'd think lower tensions would be much more comfortable in colder weather.

I also think working my way down from higher to lower w/ normal intervals would be a smart way to do it. I tried to jump from 60 straight to 30 and it was difficult.

I was asking, because even at the higher tensions, I didn't see any significant tension loss on any of my racquets. I have an app that measures tension and I keep track on all my racquets to see when there is tension loss.

I actually saw more loss on the one piece string job that came with the racquet.

I don't know if I would have felt the same if I had jumped down from 65 or 70 to 38 or 40. That seems like a very radical move. Moving down a few pounds at a time has allowed me to get the feel of what each step down does for my game. If I had gone down and didn't like the results, I would have gone back up. So far, I am liking everything about the very low tension.

I've played in polys in the 25 range. Wilson Enduro Gold... has to be one of the worst strings ever made. Stiff as crap, and feels like fence wire to the touch. I used to use it on 18x20 blade 93's so that anything else i strung would be a cake walk.

I strung it up in a o3 tour MP at 28 pounds for !@#$'s and giggles. I've never been able to hit the ball so consistently. Pulled it out the next day to play my friend and it felt like crap and I could barely get a ball in the court. I'm not sure if you'll get the same results but I'd guess you'll have to cut it out the next day.

@ Wikky - Sounds like your strings are losing tension too quickly. Maybe you should look into a technique used in the JET method. String your WEG @ 25lbs and hold the tension about 10 seconds on the mains and at least 20 seconds on the crosses. If you use a crank pull once and before moving the clamps after 10 or 20 seconds pull again.